Bishop’s University

    Partnerships

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    Quebec Indigenous Mentorship Network (QIMN)

    The Quebec Indigenous Mentorship Network brings together Quebec-based Indigenous and non-Indigenous researchers from 6 Quebec-based universities, Indigenous organizations and knowledge users to create a province-wide network where Indigenous students can acquire research skills and knowledge in health research and Indigenous health research and Indigenous ways-of-doing. 

    In the winter 2022 Bishop’s University was welcomed into the Quebec Indigenous Mentorship Network (QIMN) and was awarded a direct programming fund. This will be offered to Indigenous undergraduates in STEM and social sciences that, for many students, leads to graduate or professional school. Moreover, Bishop’s is developing a proposal to offer a Clinical Psychology doctorate program in collaboration with the Université de Quebec à Chicoutimi. The QIMN funding will enable the long-term goal of facilitating engagement and mentoring of Indigenous students. 

    Goals and activities would include some or all of the following: 

    • Train/assist/encourage BU researchers to become dynamic/well-informed/positive mentors for Indigenous students by hosting workshops about culturally safety and competency.
    • Train/assist/encourage BU instructors to become better educators by hosting workshops about Indigenous ways of knowing and best practices for creating inclusive and culturally safe classrooms.
    • Optimize BU programs by hiring a consultant to work with our program development committees to mitigate barriers to Indigenous participation in new programs.
    • Increase secondary schools, CEGEPs, and Bishop’s University Indigenous student interest in science careers by hosting activities that foster self-confidence and draws them toward STEM. Activities that demonstrate their ability to do science, that they are scientists, and that education leading to a scientific/health career is possible and of value. These activities would include bringing Indigenous science researchers and health care practitioners into schools.
    • Contribute to the cultural safety of the science community by hosting activities for all BU students to build appreciation for the sciences and in particular for ISTEM.
    • Support networking between Indigenous science students internationally by starting a BU chapter of an Indigenous students in STEM group.
    • Provide financial support to enable Indigenous students to participate in national and international science-focused gatherings and conferences.

    The working group that will develop and enact initiatives consists of the following individuals: 

    • Vicky Boldo, Special Advisor – Indigenous Student Support
    • Shawna Chatterton-Jerome, Indigenous Student Support Assistant
    • Dawn Wiseman, Associate Professor, Department of Education
    • Camilla Rizzi, Health Science Student
    • Kerry Hull, Dean of Science

    Learn more: QIMNP | Quebec Indigenous Mentorship Network Program

    Champlain College

    Close ties and partnerships have been established between the Indigenous student communities of Champlain College-Lennoxville (CC) and Bishops University. This partnership is meaningful and vital to us as Champlain College is located on the BU campus. We firmly believe that close collaboration between our institutions will provide our students with the most enriching community-oriented post-secondary experience.  

    Indigenous educational events and learning opportunities, cultural experiences, or social activities foster a great sense of community between Indigenous students. 

    Some previous activities and workshops during the 2021-2022 academic year include a three-sisters paint night, land-based learning gatherings taught by a teacher from Kahnawake, a vision board craft night, academic and career seminars, concerts, and potlucks, beading nights, fundraisers, basket-making workshops, etc. Typically, any event hosted for Indigenous students will include Indigenous students, staff, and faculty from both institutions. A great sense of community, cultural pride and a positive support system is created from this close cooperation. 

    Kwigw8mna is also intended to continue to build on this relationship, as it will be a gathering and resource center for all Indigenous students from both institutions, and the Indigenous Support person from Champlain will have an office within the building.  

    Maple league

    The Maple League is the collaboration between four institutions: Acadia, Bishop’s, Mount Allison, and St. Francis Xavier universities that share a common vision, mission, and values. The goal is to build critical thinkers and leaders through a 21st-century liberal education. The Maple League is committed to outstanding teaching, exceptional hands-on research experiences, collaborating closely with students, and creating unique opportunities to contribute to communities at home and around the world. 

    One of the collaborations through the Maple League is the travel opportunity abroad to Belize. This trip is called “Nation to Nation: Building Indigenous Knowledge Across International Borders”. This trip prioritizes Indigenous student participation across campuses. You can read more about it here: 

    Learn more: Japan and Belize Summer Programs – Bishop’s University

    PRESE

    The Estrie Higher Education Hub, best known by its French acronym PRESE (Pole regionale en enseignement superieur de l’Estrie) is an organization created to encourage, collaborate, and facilitate the dialogue between the three colleges (Champlain College Lennoxville, Cegep of Sherbrooke, Collegial of Sherbrooke Seminar) and two universities (Bishop’s University and University of Sherbrooke) in the Estrie region.  

    This year (September 2022), the PRESE has allocated 10,000$ to support initiatives and collaborations between the institutions for the National Week of Truth and Reconciliation. With these funds, activities throughout the week of September 26th to September 30th will be hosted on both Bishops University and Universite de Sherbrooke campus to raise awareness about the history of Residential School Systems and its ongoing impacts. 

    Other collaborations for land-based programming will begin in Fall of 2022 academic year with and through the partnership of PRESE. Such programming includes moose hide tanning events and basket weaving workshops. The goal is to create a close community and offer as many activities and cultural workshops for the Indigenous students at all institutions.